The statistical summary of the 12 months, ending June 30, 1963, is as follows: General correspondence and subject material coded and filed.. Bulletins, minutes, reports, news releases, etc., coded and filed.... Pamphlets and clippings coded and filed.. Materials loaned (books, magazines, newspapers, filed). Prominent Legionnaire card entries_--- Prominent Legionnaire death memorandums made___ Entries to cumulative mandate subject card index of 1963 National Con 59, 406 5, 625 2, 134 1, 813 5, 765 5, 277 3, 342 140 649 431 127 79 17, 146 117 vention and preconvention, Oct. 16-18, 1963, and April 30-May 1, 1964, National Executive Commitee meetings.___. 633 Requests answered by teletype message to New York and Washington, Requests answered by pneumatic tube to offices at National Head- Requests answered by interoffice mail. RESOLUTIONS ASSIGNMENT COMMITTEE Charles W. Griffith, South Carolina, Chairman The 1963 Resolutions Assignment Committee met at the National Convention City, Miami Beach, Fla., September 10, 11, and 12, 1963. Charles W. Griffith of South Carolina presided. Five hundred and sixty-four resolutions were studied and assigned to the various convention committees as prescribed by the Convention Committee on Permanent Organization. The resolutions for the most part covered the basic programs of The American Legion. The Resolutions Assignment Committee in its consideration of the resolutions was guided by a letter-directive under date of August 5, 1963, from National Commander James E. Powers, to check each resolution as to its germaneness to American Legion programs, as to its clarity of expression, as to its correct grammatical construction, and lastly as to its having correct and proper resolving clauses. Discrepancies in any of the above categories were noted on the resolution work slip with a recommendation for change or rejection from a Convention Committee. This information was then brought to the attention of the Convention Committee by the staff liaison representative. The Convention Committees decided on proper disposition of the resolution with reference to policy. The letterdirective stressed that the action of a Convention Committee could well be guided by the work of the Resolutions Assignment Committee with reference to the important criteria mentioned in the letter-directive. As the result of careful scrutiny by the Resolutions Assignment Committee, all resolutions were put in complete order prior to the referral to a Convention Committee. We are indeed grateful to our National Librarian, Mr. Thomas V. Hull, for the valuable assistance he gave this year as secretary to our committee. TROPHIES, AWARDS, AND CEREMONIALS COMMITTEE Reed Beard, Indiana, Chairman The Trophies, Awards, and Ceremonials Committee met once during the year— on Tuesday, April 28, 1964, at National Headquarters. Eleven nominations for International Amity Awards were received and considered by the committee. The committee voted unanimously to recommend issuance of the award to eight of the nominees: Gen. Ruben Peralta A. (Mexico), Gen. Roberto Fierro (Mexico), A. J. Carfrae (Canada), Gordon Thomson (Canada), Alex Shirra (Canada), Brigadier James L. Melville (Canada), F. F. Bailey (Canada), and John Ewasew (Canada). The committee's recommendations for the International Amity Award were amended by National Executive Committee action to include a ninth award for 1964 to be presented to Gen. Augustin Olachea A. (Mexico). Three other nominations were taken under advisement for consideration by the committee at its meeting in 1965. In recommending eight Amity Awards, the committee made an exception to its previously stated policy of a maximum of six recommendations-a maximum of three representing any one country-in any one year. This exception was made to accommodate the recognition of representatives of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans in Canada, nominations of whom are to be submitted every other year, as said organization meets biennially. The committee recommended revisions in "The Manual of Ceremonies" section of The Post Commander's Guide, effective with the 1965-66 edition, which amended the Chaplain's prayer in the opening ceremony of a post meeting; revised segments of the text of the funeral service; corrected details concerning the availability of the Manual and other paraphernalia used in American Legion ceremonies, and clarified the wearing of The American Legion cap by female members. Resolution 443 from the District of Columbia-"Proposed Changes in American Legion Ritual for Post Meetings"-referred by the 1963 National Convention was recommended for rejection by the committee and the National Executive Committee accepted the recommendation. Resolution 35 from the Department of Florida-"Revision of The American Legion Manual of Ceremonies to Include Use of Holy Bible in Ceremonies"-referred to the committee by the 1962 National Convention, was recommended for rejection by the committee on grounds previously stated at its 1963 meeting and in accordance with the recommendations of the National Chaplain and Past National Chaplains representing the major religious faiths. The National Executive Committee accepted this committee's recommendation. Resolution 318 from the Department of Virginia—“Urging that The American Legion Adopt the Poem 'Veterans Retreat' as Its Official Poem"-was recommended for rejection by the committee on the grounds that adoption of an official poem would bar recognition of possibly acceptable literary works in the future. In rejecting the resolution, the committee recommended that said resolution be resubmitted, proposing that the poem be recognized as an appropriate poem for use at American Legion funerals or memorial services, rather than the official poem of The American Legion. The committee also recommended that American Legion Posts and Departments be advised that the author of the poem--Robert J. Murrin of Springfield, Va.-has granted The American Legion the nonexclusive right to use or reproduce said poem, provided that whenever or wherever the poem is printed, the copyright notice shall appear thereon. The National Executive Committee concurred in this action. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE Halsey W. Stickel, New Jersey, Chairman The Constitution and Bylaws Committee has nothing to report in relation to a specific Constitution and Bylaws change. Any proposed changes were examined by our committee and recommendations submitted to the National Executive Committee through the Internal Affairs Commission. GRAVES REGISTRATION AND MEMORIAL COMMITTEE Carl L. Lundgren, Chairman The chairman attended all meetings of the Internal Affairs Commission as an ex officio member. In addition, the Executive Section of the committee met in Indianapolis, Ind., April 28-29, 1964. This was the first such meeting called in a number of years. The committee devoted itself to providing recommendations to the Internal Affairs Commission on methods to be used for the establishment of a positive policy as concerns National Cemeteries by the Congress of the United States and by the executive branch of our Government. A survey is in the process of being made which would show available federally owned lands by States which would be suitable for National Cemeteries. Recommendations eventually approved by the National Executive Committee provided for the naming of a Graves Registration and Memorial chairman in every Post, District, and Department. Duties of this office will be outlined in the Post Handbook, and proper insignia will be available through National Emblem Sales. Methods of promoting the keeping of improved records of veterans burials were formulated. The recommendation has been made that proper record books be made available through the Emblem Sales Division. The committee hopes to be granted an opportunity to hold a similar future meeting, particularly in view of the present status of the National Cemeteries. PILGRIMAGE COMMITTEE Stewart W. Parker, District of Columbia, Chairman Since no meeting of this committee was held, no report was received. MEMBERSHIP AND POST ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE Eugene W. Hiatt, Kansas, Chairman C. W. Geile, Indiana, Director The past year has been one of intensive study of factors affecting membership and of planning for the future of the Nation's largest veterans' organization. The Membership and Post Activities Committee has isolated six problem areas which, in the opinion of the committee, merit intensive effort if The American Legion is to realize its potential for service during the next 10 to 15 years. These problem areas are: Area I-Administration.—There is a serious need to improve the purely administrative aspects of the membership program at the post level. Area II-Post activities.—No increase in the membership of thousands of posts can be expected without an improvement in the programs and the activities of these posts. A survey of American Legion membership conducted by Richard Manville Research, Inc., some 10 years ago found: (1) The expectation of social or recreational benefits is the major reason that veterans join The American Legion; (2) after having joined, the veteran is most apt to remain a member because of the various service programs carried on by his post. Area III-Chartering of new posts.-In practically all metropolitan areas and in many nonmetropolitan areas, there is an immediate need for new American Legion Posts. Without being aware of it, The American Legion has been suffering an attrition in posts which parallels very closely the attrition in membership. Area IV-The image of The American Legion.-There is a need to determine what the public image of The American Legion is and, especially, what it should be. Area V-Leadership.—There is a need for improved leadership at the post level and for leadership training. Area VI-Coordination with departments.-There is a need for greater coordination of National Organization activities with departments to the end that there may be a maximum impact at the post level and upon the general public. Outside Proposals During the year, the committee received extensive proposals from five public relations or advertising firms which were designed to assist The American Legion in membership promotion. Four of these proposals were presented by representatives of the firms at a meeting of the Membership Committee in Indianapolis on January 27-28, 1964. Firms making proposals at that time were: Association Services of New York City, Kane Advertising of Bloomington, Ill., E. F. MacDonald Company of Dayton, Ohio, and Richard Manville Research, Inc., of New York City. A fifth proposal was presented subsequently in written form by the Moore and Schick Co. After extensive consideration and consultation with the National Commander's Advisory Committee, all proposals from the outside firms were held under advisement for possible recommendation at a later date. Urban Membership Of all of the membership problem areas listed above, it is generally recognized that the most urgent problem is the improvement of membership performance in urban areas and particularly in the vast suburbs surrounding our modern cities. Research has clearly indicated that there is a great need to establish new American Legion Posts in many of these areas. In 1951, when the Korean war started, the average American Legion Post had 158 members. At the close of 1963, the average post still had 158 members-but total membership had dropped from 2,737,529 in 1951 to 2,602,897 last year. The average Legion Post was doing as well in membership as it ever did. But between 1951 and the close of 1963, 886 posts disappeared from our rolls-and with each one of them, 158 members vanished, for a total of about 135,000 lost members. Weekly reports are made on American Legion membership (at National Headquarters we even watch our daily membership turn-ins avidly), but there has perhaps been too little attention given to the total number of posts which we have to make our membership possible. From 1950-the high point in total number of Legion Posts-until January 1, 1964, The American Legion's roll of local posts has dropped from 17,360 to 16,474. This decline in the number of posts has taken place during a period when new communities by the score were springing up across the entire country, particularly in the areas surrounding metropolitan centers. For several years, the average membership per post has remained consistently at between 158 and 161, so that as the total number of posts has declined, the remaining posts are left with a greater membership load—if overall membership strength is to be maintained. Actually, the remaining posts have not picked up the slack and the net effect has been a gradual decline in total membership, with, of course, fluctuations from year to year. The National Membership Committee points out that new posts are just as necessary to the future of The American Legion as a whole, as are new members to the future of the individual post. Under the best of circumstances and for a variety of reasons over which we may have no control, some posts will always be in the process of dying. Unless new posts come into existence at the same time, a net membership loss is the usual result. Before World War II, the Legion had one post for every 250 eligible veteransand was enrolling about one-fourth of the potential. Today, the Legion has a post for every 1,200 eligibles, and enrolls just slightly more than one-eighth of the potential. Without exception, departments which have the best record in enrolling a high percentage of the potential are departments which have a high number of posts in relation to that potential. The National Membership Committee has compared three urban areas, each of approximately 750,000 population. Area "A" has 18 posts and enrolls 5.7 percent of the potential. Urban area "B" has 25 posts and enrolls 9 percent of the potential. Area "C" has 48 posts and enrolls about 14 percent of the potential. In 1962, one department had an American Legion Post for every 263 eligible veterans in the State and enrolled over 45 percent of the potential. At the same time, another department had one post for each 2,391 eligibles and enrolled just over 7 percent of the potential. These and similar statistics are being given intensive study by the National Membership and Post Activities Committee. During the past year, staff members of the Membership and Post Activities Section have been working with a number of cooperating departments to try to find whether it is possible to start a significant number of new posts and, if so, how to go about it. As yet, only a beginning has been made on this project, but preliminary findings are encouraging. These are the preliminary conclusions that have been reached: (1) The average veteran does want to belong to a veterans' organization. (2) He will join a post provided there is a post in the area which he identifies as his home community, provided the post is not one with which he would be ashamed to be associated, and provided he is asked. (3) In areas where there is no active American Legion Post, eligible veterans are receptive to the idea of forming a post and can, without too much difficulty, come up with the necessary number to qualify for a charter-people naturally like to get "in on the ground floor"; contrary to what is often thought, a new post does not harm the membership of an older post in the same area but often strengthens it. Starting a successful post is, of course, not a simple thing. Continued help and guidance is needed from district, county, or other officers during the first several years. But posts can be started and they can exercise a profound influence on both the membership and the morale of the district or even the whole department. Planning for 1965 It is generally recognized that one of the essentials for a successful membership program is early planning. As a means of stimulating such early planning and at the same time of improving coordination at all levels of the organization, the Membership and Post Activities Committee recommended the holding of a National Membership Workshop in Indianapolis during the latter part of August 1964. This recommendation was subsequently approved by the National Commander's Advisory Committee, the National Finance Commission, and the National Executive Committee. At the time that this report was written, plans for the workshop were being finalized. One representative from each of the 50 State departments, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, was authorized to attend at the expense of the National Organization. In addition, most of the departments planned to send additional representatives at the expense of the departments, and it was anticipated that from 125 to 150 key department officers would come to Indianapolis on August 24-25 for an intensive 2-day period of planning and preparation for the 1965 membership year. Statistical Report The remainder of this statement is devoted to a statistical and factual report of major routine activities and a brief chronology of awards: To each post reenrolling by November 11, 1963, an advance enrollment for 1964 equaling or surpassing the 1963 membership is awarded a Special Certificate of Most Distinguished Service. This past year, 1.216 posts qualified. To posts securing by December 31, 1963, a 1964 membership equal to or greater than their alltime high is awarded a Certificate of Meritorious Service, and 463 posts qualified. The Honor Ribbon, for attachment to the post banner, is awarded to posts reaching or surpassing the 1963 membership for 1964 by December 31, 1963; 2,472 posts received these Honor Ribbons. The National Commander expressed his personal appreciation for outstanding membership effort of individual Legionnaires by awarding a special plastic card case to membership workers who signed 15 or more members, new or renewals, by December 31, 1963. This recognition was won by 17,418 Legionnaires. In addition to these testimonial cards, the National Commander expressed his appreciation in a letter of commendation to 1,216 posts for reaching or surpassing 100 percent of their 1963 membership for 1964 by November 11, 1963. |